Chelle extends invitations to seven new entrants
Head Coach Éric Sékou Chelle has named goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Adeleye Adebayo, defenders William Ekong, Calvin Bassey and Olaoluwa Aina, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Simon Moses in a provisional list of 39 players for this month’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
There are also goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Zaidu Sanusi, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Samuel Chukwueze and Sadiq Umar.
Defenders Igoh Ogbu and Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, midfielders Anthony Dennis, Chrisantus Uche and Papa Daniel Mustapha, and forwards Tolu Arokodare and Jerome Akor Adams are named for the first time ever, while there could be returns for home-based goalkeeper Kayode Bankole, defender Jordan Torunarigha, midfielder Joseph Ayodele-Aribo and forwards Cyriel Dessers and Nathan Tella, if they eventually make the final list of 23.
Nigeria, fifth on the group C log behind Rwanda, South Africa, Benin Republic and Lesotho, square up to leaders Amavubi of Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, 21st March before taking on Zimbabwe’s Warriors at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo four days later.
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Provisional list of 39 players for Rwanda, Zimbabwe
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United); Maduka Okoye (Udinese); Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars); Adeleye Adebayo (Enosis Paralimni); Kayode Bankole (Remo Stars)
Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood ); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiacos); Gabriel Osho (Auxerre); Calvin Bassey (Fulham ); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest); Zaidu Sanusi (Porto); Igoh Ogbu (SK Slavia Prague); Jordan Torunarigha (Gent ); Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Enugu Rangers )
Read Also: NFF unveils Éric Chelle as Super Eagles’ 37th coach
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio); Frank Onyeka (Augsburg); Alex Iwobi (Fulham); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton); Anthony Dennis (Goztepe SK, Turkey); Chrisantus Uche (Getafe CF, Spain); Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze ( Milan); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta); Kelechi Iheanacho (Middlesbrough); Victor Boniface (Leverkusen); Simon Moses (Nantes); Sadiq Umar (Valencia); Nathan Tella (Leverkusen); Cyriel Dessers (Glasgow Rangers); Tolu Arokodare ( Genk); Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla); Paul Onuachu (Southampton); Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars); Jerome Akor Adams (Sevilla).